Pipe handling apparatus



I Nov.3, `1970 J. c. snNE ETAL l PIPE HANDLING APPARATUS I N VliNl UR 5 #agria paws( WIAon Maidens A rra/PNE y.:

: Nov. 3, 197.0 y J.c.s1'|NE ET'AL 3,537,684

1 l PIPE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed may 2s, 196s 2 sheets-sheet 2 v l [NVEN'IURJ' ffy# l f7* BY Afro/ME y:

'United States Patent O 3,537,684 PIPE HANDLING APPARATUS Joe C. Stine and Arthur L. Seljos, Houston, Tex., assignors to Joe Stine, Inc., a corporation of Texas Filed May 23, 1968-, Ser. No. 731,510 Int. Cl. B66f I 00 U.S. Cl. 254-106 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Pipe handling apparatus for raising or lowering pipe, particularly large diameter casing pipe, into a well bore or mine shaft or the like. The apparatus includes upper and lower releasable pipe clamping assemblies each having a central opening through which the pipe passes. A primary jack system is located between the upper and lower pipe clamping assemblies for raising and lowering the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly. A secondary jack system is located between the lower pipe clamping assembly and the support surface above which the apparatus `is resting for automatically leveling the pipe handling apparatus. The apparatus is constructed so that it may be readily dismantled for transportation purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE" INVENTION This 'invention relates to pipe handling apparatus for raising or lowering pipe.

It is desirable and sometimes necessary to line large diameter holes in the earth, such as large diameter well bores, mine shafts and the like, with casing pipe or tubing, or some other hollow structure. An unlined hole in the earth is subject to the possibility of collapse and often is partially filled near the bottom with an accumulation of dirt, stone or other material. Deep, open holes often pass through water-bearing earth formations which tend to drain into the open hole, filling it with water and interfering with continued drilling operations. Such holes are commonly protected by placing a lining or casing in the hole which prevents the entry of loose materials and maintains an open and usable hole for the full extent of the casing. The casing may also be sealed to prevent entry of water.

A problem encountered in placing a large diameter casing pipe in an earth borehole is that such casing pipe is usually relatively heavy and, if a very long length of such pipe is involved, then the total weight becomes quite considerable, for example, several million pounds. If standard pipe handling techniques were to be used, if would require the use of a Very rugged, heavy-duty derrick structure and accompanying hoisting mechanism. Needless to say, such structures would be expensive and cumbersome.

In U.S. IPat. No. 3,257,099, granted on June 2l, 1966, and entitled, Pipe Handling Means, there is described an improved form of pipe handling apparatus which, among other things, eliminates the need for the heavyduty derrick and hoisting mechanism. Such apparatus makes use of upper and lower releasable pipe clamping assemblies and a system of hydraulic jacks located therebetween for raising and lowering the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly for thereby lowering the pipe step by step into the well bore. This apparatus has been found to be quite useful in accomplishing its intended purpose. It has been found, however, that additional improvements can be made with respect to such apparatus for further increasing its usefulness under certain types of operating conditions.

For example, when the outside diameter of the pipe becomes very large, on the order of four feet or more, and

3,537,684 Patented Nov. 3, 1970 the well bore becomes relatively deep, on the order of one mile or more, the pipe handling apparatus is required to support a weight of pipe on the order of 3,000 tons or more. It has been found that if the pipe handling apparatus is not set in an almost perfectly level position, then the pipe load will be slightly unbalanced and one portion of the apparatus will be required to carry a greater proportion of the load. Under the assumed conditions, the excess loading on the one portion becomes quite considerable and may cause damage to or a structural failure in the pipe handling apparatus.

Another problem with apparatus for handling relatively large diameter pipe is that such apparatus tends to become relatively large and bulky. As a consequence, problems are sometimes encountered when it is desired to transport the apparatus from one location to another, particularly by way of aircraft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide new and improved pipe handling apparatus for handling relatively large diameter pipe.

It is another object of the invention to provide new and improved pipe handling apparatus which includes means for atomatically leveling the operative portion of the apparatus.

It is a further object of the invention to provide new and improved pipe handling apparatus which may be readily dismantled for transportation purposes.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, pipe handling apparatus for raising or lowering pipe comprises upper and lower pipe clamping assemblies each having a central opening through which the pipe its adapted to pass and each including means for releasably engaging the exterior of the pipe. The apparatus also includes a primary jack system located between the upper and lower pipe clamping assemblies for raising and lowering the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly. The apparatus further includes a secondary jack system located between the lower pipe clamping assembly and the support surface above which the apparatus is resting, this secondary jack system comprising a plurality of piston-type hydraulic jacks having their piston chambers in fluid communication with one another so that the clamping assemblies and the primary jack system can be supported by a common supply of hydraulic iluid. This prov-ides automatic leveling of the apparatus supported by the secondary jack system.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the upper and lower pipe clamping assemblies are each comprised of a pair of semicircular subassemblies which are releasably secured to one another. The various jack assemblies used with the apparatus are maintained in place relative to the upper and lower clamping assemblies by means of jack sockets which are formed in such clamping assemblies. These features enable the pipe handling apparatus to be readily dismantled for transportation purposes and the like.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects and features thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompany drawings, the scope of the invention being pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational View of pipe handling apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention,

part of the apparatus being broken away to show some of the underlying structure in a cross-sectional manner;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a novel hydraulic leveling system which is included in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. l, there is shown pipe handling apparatus comprising an upper pipe clamping assembly and a lower pipe clamping assembly 11. Each of the assemblies 10 and 11 is provided with a central opening through which a large diameter pipe 12 is adapted to pass. A primary jack system 13 is located between the upper and lower pipe clamping assemblies 10 and 11 for raising and lowering the upper assembly 10 relative to the lower assembly 11. The primary jack system 13 includes a series of eight hydraulic jacks which are evenly space around a circle encircling the pipe 12. Each of these hydraulic jacks includes a piston 14 and a cylinder or piston chamber 15. These jacks are constructed so that the pistons 14 have a relatively long stroke, for example, on the order of 1l feet. These jacks are shown in their collapsed positions in FIG. 1.

The pipe handling apparatus also includes a secondary jack system 16 located between the lower pipe clamping assembly 11 and the support surface above which the apparatus is resting. This secondary jack system 16 includes a series of eight piston-type hydraulic jacks which are evenly spaced around a circle encircling the pipe 12. Each of these secondary jacks includes a piston 17 and a cylinder or piston chamber 18. The purpose of these secondary jacks is to provide an automatic leveling action for the remainder of the apparatus supported thereabove. These secondary jacks 16 are provided with a relatively short piston stroke, for example, on the order of 3 inches. The piston chambers 18 of the secondary jacks 16 rest on a base plate 19 which rests on a concrete footing 20 which, in turn, rests on the surface of the earth. A central opening 21 in the concrete footing 20 is the same size as and is in alignment with a much deeper well bore extending downward into the earth. Such well bore may extend to a depth of one and a half miles below the surface of the earth.

When referring to FIG. 2, it should be carefully noted that the right half thereof is a view taken at one elevation, while the left half is a view taken at a diflerent elevation. The two elevations are indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1. Also, as indicated by section line 1 1 of FIG. 2, the left hand portion of FIG. 1, which is shown in a cross-sectional manner, is not directly in line with the portion shown in the right hand half of FIG. l.

Referring to both FIGS. l and 2, the upper pipe clamping assembly 10 is composed of two semicircular subassemblies 22a and 22b, the former constituting the front half of the clamping assembly 10 and the latter constituting the back half of the clamping assembly 10. These subassemblies 22a and 22b are provided with mating flanges 23a and 23b, best seen in FIG. 2. These flanges are releasably secured to one another by means of bolts 24 and nuts 25, the bolts 24 passing through bolt holes 26 (see FIG. 1) in the flanges 23a and 23b. Each of the subassemblies 22a and 22b is of a box frame type of construction having various internal rib members as required. Each of the subassemblies 22a and 22b also includes a plurality of jack sockets 27 which are in the form of vertically extending cylindrical passageways which extend from top to bottom through the subassemblies 22a and 22b and which are adapted to receive the upper portions of the primary jack pistons 14.

Each of the subassemblies 22a and 22b forming the upper pipe clamping assembly 10 includes means for releasably engaging the exterior of the pipe 12. This pipe engaging means includes a series of hydraulic rams 28 which drive a corresponding series of pipe-engaging load shoes 29. As indicated in FIG. 2, there are eight such ram and load shoe combinations and they are evenly spaced around the clamping assembly 10. The details of this combination are perhaps best seen in the cross-sectional portion of FIG. 1. Associated with each of the load shoes 29 is a cam shaft 30 (FIG. 2) which cooperates with a limit switch 31 for purpose of signaling whether the load shoes 29 are retracted or extended.

The lower pipe clamping assembly 11 includes a pair of semicircular subassemblies 32a and 3212, the former constituting the front half of the clamping assembly 11 and the latter constituting the back half of the clamping assembly 11. These subassemblies 32a and 32b are provided with mating flanges 33a and 3311. These flanges 33a and 3311 are releasably secured to one another by means of bolts 34 and nuts 35, the bolts 34 passing through bolt holes 36 in the flanges. The subassemblies 32a and 321) are of a box frame type of construction having various internal rib members as required. The subassembly 32a is provided with a centrally located built-up portion 37a, while the subassembly 32b is provided with a central built-up portion 37b. The outside diameter of the built-up portions 37a and 37b is the same as the outside diameter of the upper clamping assembly 10.

Each of the lower clamping subassemblies 32a and 32b includes a series of jack sockets 38 which are adapted to receive the lower portions of the various primary jack piston chambers K15. These jack sockets 38 are in the form of vertically extending cylindrical passageways which run from the top to the bottom of the clamping subassemblies 32a and 32b. Each of the subassemblies 32a and 32b also includes a series of support sockets 39 which are adapted to receive the upper portions of the support jack or secondary jack pistons 17.

Each of the subassemblies 32a and 32b making up the lower pipe clamping assembly 11 includes means for releasably engaging the exterior of the pipe 12. This pipe engaging means includes eight hydraulic rams 40 and a corresponding number of pipe-engaging load shoes 41. A cam shaft 42 and a cooperating limit switch 43 are associated with each of the load shoes 41 for purposes of signaling whether the load shoes 41 are retracted or extended.

As best seen in FIG. 1, each of the primary jack cylinders 15 includes a flange portion 44 which rests on the top surface of the built-up portions 37a and 37b for purposes of supporting the piston cylinders 115. The upper portions of each of the primary jack pistons 14 is of reduced diameter so as to provide a shoulder 45 which rests against and supports the upper clamping assembly 10. This reduced diameter portion is of sufficient length so as to extend out the top of the clamping assembly 10, the portion so extending being threaded. A retaining nut 46 is threaded onto this threaded portion.

The pistons 17 of the secondary or support jacks 16 are provided with reduced diameter upper portions 47 which are adapted to be received in the support sockets 39. This provides a shoulder for supporting the lower surface of the lower clamping assembly 11. The secondary jack system 16 also includes means represented by a hydraulic manifold line 50 for providing fluid communication between the lower portions of each of the piston chambers 18. Connected to the manifold line 50 is a supply line 51.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system for actuating the secondary jacks 16. As there indicated, the supply line 51 is connected by way of a line 52 and a needle valve 53 to a line 54, the latter being connected to a hydraulic pump or other source of high-pressure hydraulic fluid (not shown). A second line 55 branching off from the supply line 51 is connected by way of a second needle valve 56 to a further line 57, the latter being connected to a suitable hydraulic drain reservoir (not shown).

The hydraulic systems for controlling the primary jack system 13 and the two sets of hydraulic rams 28 and 40 are of the same type as described in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,257,099. Consequently, a description thereof is not repeated herein, reference being had to lsuch patent for information concerning such details.

Considering now the assembly and operation of the pipe handling apparatus just described, the various parts of the apparatus are transported to the location of the earth well bore and the two halves of each of the upper and lower pipe clamping assemblies and 11 are bolted together. The secondary jacks 16 are positioned around the well bore and the lower clamping assembly 111 is properly positioned on top of such jacks. The primary jacks 13 are then lowered into place in the appropriate receiving sockets 38 in the lower clamping assembly 11. The upper pipe clamping assembly 10 is then set in place on top of the primary jacks 13 and the retaining nuts 46 threaded into place on the top ends of the primary jack pistons 14.

It is now necessary to load or li'll the hydraulic system associated with the secondary jacks 16. With reference to FIG. 3, this is accomplished by closing the output needle valve 56 and opening the intake needle valve 53. High-pressure hydraulic fluid is then supplied by way of the intake valve 53 until each of the pistons 17 has been raised an appropriate distance off of the bottom of its piston chamber 18. This might be a distance of, for example, two inches. The intake valve 53 is then closed and, normally, the secondary jack hydraulic system wi'll be left in this condition during the lsubsequent use of the pipe handling apparatus. It will be observed that this hydraulic system causes each of the pistons 17 to, in effect,

be oating on a common source of hydraulic uid. As a consequence, the pistons 17 will automatically adjust themselves so as to level the remainder of the apparatus which is being supported by such pistons 17. In this manner, the operative portion of the pipe handling apparatus is automatically leveled even though the bottoms of the piston cylinders 18 may not be exactly level.

The pipe handling apparatus is now ready for use. In this regard, it should be noted that the particular pipe 12 shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of radially protruding flange members 55 which are spaced apart along such pipe 12. These flange members 55 serve as lift bars and, as such, the spacing therebetween should be just slightly larger than the minimum separation between the upper surfaces of the load shoes 29y and 41 when the pipe handling apparatus is in its collapsed or retracted condition as shown in FIG. 1.

Initially, the primary lifting jacks 13 are actuated so that the pistons 14 are raised to their extended position. A section of the pipe 12 is then lowered by some suitable overhead lifting means (not shown) through the upper clamping assembly 10 and down into the apparatus. The upper set of load shoes 29` is then extended to engage the pipe 12. The pipe 12 is then released from the overhead lifting means and a'llowed to slide downwardly of the shoes 29 until a lifting ange 55 comes to rest on the shoes 29. The hydraulic pressure holding the pistons 14 in an extended position is then released and the pipe 12 is lowered until the pistons 14 reach ,their retracted position. The distance through which the pipe 12 is lowered may be, for example, 11 feet. The lower hydraulic rams 40 are then actuated so as to drive the lower load shoes 41 into engagement with the pipe 12 at a position immediately below a lower one of the lift flanges 55. The upper load shoes 29 are then retracted.

The primary jack piston chambers 1S are then refilled with hydraulic fluid to re-elevate the upper clamping assembly 10 to an extended position such that its load shoes 29 are immediately below a higher one of the lift flanges 55. The upper load shoes 29 are then driven into engagement with the pipe 12 and the lower load shoes 41 retracted. The primary lifting jacks 13 are again returned to their collapsed position so as to lower the pipe 12 another increment of distance into the earth well bore. This process is repeated over and over again until the pipe 12 is lowered the appropriate distance into the well bore.

1t is noted that a separate overhead lifting means (not shown) is required to lower each new section of pipe into place above the pipe handling apparatus, whereupon the new section is then welded or otherwise coupled to the top end of the pipe already in the apparatus. This overhead lifting means is, however, not required to support the entire weight of the hundreds of feet of pipe in the hole, such iweight instead being supported by the pipe handling apparatus. Thus, such overhead lifting means may be of a relatively lightweight type of construction, it only being required to lift a single section of pipe into place.

An embodiment of the above-described apparatus has been constructed which is capable of lowering 54-inch casing pipe into a well bore which is one and a half miles deep. It it capable of supporting a total pipe weight of 8,000,000 pounds.

From the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is seen that there is provided a rugged, heavy-duty pipe handling apparatus which is capable of handling relatively large diameter pipe and 4which includes means for automatically leveling itself.

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, various changes and modifications may be made in the described embodiment without departing from the spiirt of the invention. For example, the pipe handling apparatus may be modified to operate with pipe having either a square or a rectangular cross section. This is done by using modified pipe clamping assemblies wherein the load shoes are arranged in the desired square or rectangular pattern.

What is claimed is:

1. Pipe handling apparatus for raising or lowering pipe relative to a support surface comprising:

upper and lower pipe clamping assemblies each having a central opening through which the pipe is adapted to pass and each including means for releasably engaging the exterior of the pipe;

a primary jack system located between the upper and lower pipe clamping assemblies for raising and lowering said upper pipe clamping assembly relative to said lower pipe clamping assembly;

and a secondary jack system located between said lower pipe clamping assembly and the support surface above which the apparatus is resting, said secondary jack system comprising a plurality of pistontype hydraulic jacks each of which includes a piston and piston chamber and having a common manifold line connecting said piston chambers in fluid cornmunication with one another so that said clamping assemblies and said primary jack system can be supported on said secondary jack system by a common supply of hydraulic fluid, thereby providing automatic leveling of the apparatus supported by said secondary jack system.

Pipe handling apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the upper end of veach of said pistons is adapted coupled to said lower pipe clamping assembly and said piston chambers adapted to be coupled to the support surface, said common manifold adapted to be connected to the lower portions of each of the piston chambers for providing common fluid communication between the lower portions of each of the piston chambers.

3. Pipe handling apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said secondary jack system includes means for lling the lower portions of the piston chambers and said common manifold with hydraulic fluid having a pressure which is sufficient to keep the lower ends of said pistons spaced apart from the lower ends of the piston chamber under normal operating conditions.

4. Pipe handling apparatus for raising or lowering pipe, which apparatus may be readily dismantled for transportation purposes, comprising:

upper and lower pipe clamping assemblies each having a central opening through which the pipe is adapted to pass and each comprising a pair of semicircular subassemblies and means for releasably securing said two subassemblies together, each such subassembly including means for releasably engaging the exterior of the pipe and a plurality of jack sockets;

a plurality of jack assemblies which is located between the upper and lower pipe clamping assemblies for raising and lowering the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly, the upper portion of each of the jack assemblies being received by a jack socket in the upper pipe clamping assembly and the lower portion of each jack assembly being received by a corresponding jack socket in the lower pipe clamping assembly;

each subassembly in the said lower pipe clamping assembly including a plurality of support sockets;

a support surface; and

a plurality of piston-type hydraulic support jacks located between said lower pipe clamping assembly and said support surface above which the apparatus is resting, said piston-type hydraulic jacks each including a piston and piston chamber with the upper portion of each of said pistons adapted to be received by a support socket in said lower pipe clamping assembly, and manifold means for providing fluid communication among said piston chambers so that said clamping assemblies and the jack assemblies located therebetween can be supported by a common supply of hydraulic uid, thereby providing automatic leveling of the apparatus supported by the support jacks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 20 THERON E. CoNDoN, Primary Examiner D. R. MELTON, Assistant Examiner '22250 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent NQ- 3.537,684 Dated November 3 1970 Inventds) Joe C. Stine et al It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 24, change "atomatically" to automatical1y. Column 6, line 59, after "adapted" insert --to be.

Febuary 2, 1971 Amb WILLIAM E. 'SOEUYIEL JZR.

It @omissioner or Patente Eawlrdmilewml Amsting Offiwl 

